Militant workers group backs Tiangco

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – The national center of government employees, the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), on Saturday expressed support for Navotas Rep.Tobias Tiangco, who testified at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In a press statement, COURAGE President Ferdinand Gaite said the congressman’s constituents “should be proud” of Tiangco for taking the witness stand last Monday.

"To do the right thing even if it means getting the ire of your colleagues and sacrificing his pork and his perks is truly commendable. To admit fear of reprisal and yet to stand by what you believe in is indeed courage. Rep. Tiangco and the people of Navotas should be proud,” Gaite said.

The militant workers group also expressed dismay over the administration’s alleged use of the pork barrel as leverage against the opposition.

“This is despicable. The money did not come and does not belong to Malacañang but from the peoples' taxes. They do not have the right to use it as leverage for loyalty,” Gaite added in the statement.

In his testimony last Monday, Tiangco alleged that Palace allies threaten lawmakers so they would support impeachment moves by the majority.

Tiangco said the threats started after the impeachment move against then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and continued with the impeachment of the chief justice.

The lawmaker also said he decided not to sign the Corona impeachment complaint despite possible delays in his pork barrel funds.